Boring tool



May 23, 1933. c.' F. HOTCHKIS-S. JR

BORING TOOL 7 Filed Jan. 28. 1931 IN V EN TOR. 62 Aft/V66 fflorc/rk/ssa BY J 1 Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED sr-A'ras PATENT osFica cnmnon r no'rcmnss, m, or BmomromnEw ronmnssronoa'ro 's'row MANU- rac'runme comm, or YBINGHAMTON, NEW. Yoax, ayconronarron. or NEW YORK . BORING TOOL My invention relates toboring tools such as are used for removing stoppages from clogged waste pipes, drains, traps, and the like.

I Such devices: generally comprise a rela-' tively longcrank member movably disposed within a -sheath and securedto which is'a flexible shaft carrying a boring member at its free end. The purpose of such construction is to permit the flexible shaft to be drawn upwardly into the sheathpreparatory to introducing it into the drain or pipe to be cleaned, thus guiding same as it is rotated and moved downwardly therethrough by virtue of the crank thereon, and at the same time eliminating anybinding, whipping action or kinking usually incident to such operation because of inherent obstinacy peculiar to suchshafts. p 7

.Now it is of extreme importance thatsuch shafts should be as long as is practically possible in: order to reach stoppages occurring in. the innermost parts of the drain system. It will be apparent, therefore, that in manufacturing such an article it would be necessary if the flexible shaft were of any material lengthlto make the sheath sufii'ciently longito completely encase the shaft'when it is drawn upwardly therein and it will also be obvious that such increase in the length of the sheath would naturally tend to render the device impractical, unwieldy and Iawkward to use.

- The primary object of my invention, therefore, has been to provide a tool of this character Whichwill permit the use of a relatively long flexible shaft and yet which will operate smoothly and quickly within a relatively short sheath without any of the aforementioned inconveniences and encum brances.

' Another and important object of my invention is to provide a means whereby 1n the event the flexible shaft should break or otherwise become accidentally or inadvertently demolished it maybe quickly and easily detached from the crank member and replaced. a

. i A ,further and equally important feature of my invention lies in the unique construction of the flexible shaft afl'ording maximum torsional strength within a minimum diameter.

Other objects and advantages in details of construction andoperation will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference now being had to the figures of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this'application and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts. i

Inthe drawing: 7 Figure 1 is aside view of boring tool, certain section for clearness.

Figure 2 is a side View of the same with the flexible shaft drawn upwardly within the sheath. Y

I Figure 3 is a detailsectional VleW illustrating the removable fastening means for fittaching the flexible shaft to the crank memer. I Figure 4 is a detail partly sectional view of the flexible wire shaft or cable forming a part of the boring tool. I

The reference character 1 refers to a sheath or housing; formed preferably of hollow metal tubing provided at its lower end with a curved portion 2. v 7

The sheath 1 is preferably of substantial metal tube stock and adapted to pass through same for a portion ,of its length is a fairly rigid rod or heavy wire 3, the upper outer end of which is bent as at 4 and provided with a knurled handle piece 5 by means ofwhich the rod 3 may be rotated within the sheath 1. The lower end-0f the rod 3 terminates at a point just above where the sheath is bent'to my improved parts being shown in form the curved portion '2 and is drilled or otherwise suitably provided centrally of its extreme lower end with an opening 6 adapted to snugly receive a tongue 7 of a piece of metal stock :as clearly shownin Figure 3. This metal piece 8 ispreferably formed of stock substantially of the same diameter as that of the rod 3 and is shouldered intermediateits ends as at 9 to provide thetongue 7, thus insuring secure socketing engagement within the opening 6 of the rod 3. The extreme lower ,end of this piece Sis provided with a tapering opening '10 adapted to securely receive the likewise similarly tapered end of a flexible shaft 11 which is swedged therein as at 12. Solder may be applied or as a matter of fact the shaft 11 may be welded at this point to further insure rigid connec tion with the piece 8. A bolt 13 is threaded through the opening 6 of the rod 3 and through the tongue 7 of the piece 8 to rigidly maintain same in assembled form. The bolt 13 is preferably of a length which when threaded through these parts is flush at'its outer extremities with the diameter of the rod 3 so that it will in nowise restrict the movement of same. It is obvious that should the shaft 11 become unfit for use as previously stated, it may be easily replaced by removing the bolt 13 and inserting a new shaft. This cable 11 is adapted, when the rod 3 is pushed downwardly within the housing or sheath 1, to extend beyond the outer curved end 2 of the sheath, and enter the pipe or drain, or other place where a stoppage has occurred and through which it is desired to bore an opening.

This flexible cable 11 is preferably formed in the manner shown in Figure 4 and consists of an inner core 14: of flexible wire about which and in engagement with which is spirally coiled a wire sheath or covering 15 preferably of line round wire over which is coiled a second sheath or covering 16, of like material but wound spirally in the opposite direction from the sheath 15. An additional spirally wound wire sheath 17 is also wound upon the inner sheaths 15 and 16, the material used for this preferably being formed of flat wire'stock having a thickness approximately the same as the diameter of the round wire and a width of about twice the diameter of same. It should be particularly noted that this last mentioned coil 17 of flat stock is tightly wound edgewise upon the sheath 16 and it may be stated here that it has been found that this manner of construction, i. e., combining the flat and the round coils in this way, materially and greatly increases the torsional strength of the shaft 11 within the restricted limitations of the diameter of same. This forms a three ply winding or covering for the inner core 14 which makes a flexible shaft of superior qualities in every respect as to flexibility, durability, and strength, to a shaft of equal diameter but made up of all round wire windings. It will be understood, of course, that the particular size of the inner wire 14 and of the sheath or covering therefor, or the number of windings thereof is immaterial, the most suitable sizes being adopted for the use to which the device is to be put.

Suitably secured to the outer end of the flexible shaft 11 is a boring screw or tool 18 consisting in several coils of heavy wire, the outer coiled end of which is preferably smaller than the rear end thereof, whereby the device acts as a boring tool, serving upon rotation by means of the handle 5 on the rod 3, to screw or bore its way through stoppages into which it may come in contact in use.

Obviously from the foregoing construction, the flexible shaft 11 may be drawn into the sheath 1 by pulling outwardly on the rod 3, or it may be extended out of the lower bent end 2 of the sheath 1 by pushing inwardly on said rod, the circumstances and conditions under which the device is ,used'and operated governing the proper position of the flexible shaft 11.

As before stated because of a desirability of using a relatively short and therefore an easily manageable and efliciently operated sheath in-connection with a relatively much longer flexible shaft, some means must be provided to control and influence the action of that portion of the shaft which extends above the upper end of the sheath when the shaft is drawn inwardly into same, for it is obvious, that as the handle 5 is rotated, this unguided portion extending outside of the sheath would be inclined to offer obstinate resistance such as by whipping, kinking, or bending or possibly breaking. To prevent such occurrence and eliminate such difliculties, I have reenforced this extending portion by tightly winding directly adjacent the shoulder 9 of the piece 8, and in a spiral manner, a piece of flat relatively wide spring ma terial 19 over the shaft 11 for a distance along same sufficient to extend down into the sheath 1 a short distance when the rod 3 is pulled to extreme outward position as shown in Figure 2. The ends of the reenforcement strip 19 may be soldered or otherwise suitably secured as at 20 to the shaft 11 and the piece 8 which is attached thereto.

It is obvious that the foregoing construction greatly rigidifies and strengthens the shaft at this unguided portion thus precluding possibilities of the previously mentioned resistance or fracture at this weak point and simultaneously allowing the handle 5 to be turned freely with positive assurance of a smooth, unrestricted feeding action.

Of course changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not limit myself therefore, to the exact form herein shown or described other than by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A boring tool comprising a rigid sheath and a flexible shaft slidable and rotatable therein, a turning handle on one end of said shaft and a boring member on the opposite end, said turning handle having a rigid stem adapted to extend into said sheath a substantial distance, said flexible shaft and handle together being longer than said sheath, and a flexible reenforcing covering for the portion of said flexible shaft extending beyond the end of said sheath.

2. A boring tool comprising a rigid sheath and a flexible shaft slidable and rotatable therein, a turning handle on one end of said shaft and a boring member on the o osite end, said turning handle having a rigi stem adapted to extend into said sheath a substantial distance, said flexible shaft and handle being longer than said sheath, and a flexible reenforcing covering for the portion of said flexible shaft extending beyond the end of said sheath, said flexible sheath being secured to said flexible shaft.

3. A boring tool comprising a sheath, a rotatable shaft extending th'erethrough, a boring member on said shaft, and flexible reenforcement means on said shaft only Where said shaft extends out of said sheath.

4. A boring tool comprising a sheath, a rotatable rod extending therein and having a handle at one end, a flexible shaft secured to the opposite end of said rod within said sheath, a boring member secured to the outer end of said shaft and reenforcement means along said flexible shaft, said reenforcement means having relatively less flexibility than said flexible shaft.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my si ature.

CLARENCE F.. HOTOHKI JR; 

